Terms of Reference (June 2012)
Evaluation of the Dairy Development programme SNV-Kenya
Introduction
SNV will conduct three external, independent evaluations this year, all with a distinct focus on SNV’s value added to development results. One of these evaluations will focus on the Dairy Development Programme in Kenya.
Dairy Kenya
The dairy industry in Kenya is an important source of regular income and a means of asset accumulation for close to 1 million smallholder farmers. The sector, valued at Kshs 100 billion (USD 1.1billion) in 2007, accounts for 14% of Agricultural GDP, equating to 3.5% of Kenya’s overall GDP. The Kenya Dairy Board estimates that about 5.7% (1.6 million) Kenyans are engaged to some degree in the dairy value chain. However, the dairy productivity in Kenya is constrained by key factors among them inadequate feeds, inadequate knowledge on proper breeding techniques, and limited access to extension services.
SNV Kenya’s Dairy Programme
SNV Kenya’s activities in the dairy sector have thus far mainly focused on the level of Collection and Bulking Enterprises (CBEs). These are business entities incorporated as cooperatives or public companies that collect milk from members / shareholders, bulk the raw milk to processors and/ or sell to end-consumers directly. CBEs also provide services to their members like input supply, extension, and credit via a check-off system for milk.
SNV supports CBEs by strengthening their capacity to provide quality services to small-scale farmers. Together with Agriterra, a Dutch organisation that supports farmers' organisations with advice from experts from the Dutch agricultural sector and with finance from the Dutch government, SNV assist in training farmers in improving quality of their dairy products and increasing productivity. In addition, support is offered in good governance and management of the CBEs and farmers’ associations, including milk marketing and business planning.
SNV also partners with DSM Nutritional Products, an international, but originally Dutch company. DSM NP nutrition produces bulk vitamins, carotenoids, custom nutrient blends and nutraceuticals to feed, food, beverage and dietary supplements and personal care products. DSM and SNV support a CBE and a processor in developing affordable, high nutritious enriched milk products for the Kenyan market.
In addition to the work with CBE’s, SNV also runs a specific project financed through Kenyan Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme (NALEP) targeting the development of an extension model through local service provider enterprises (SPE’s). NALEP is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Ministry of Livestock Development (MoLD). In this project, groups of young people receive training in fodder establishment, preservation and feeding methods. Hereafter they start working as extension workers or agricultural contractors to be paid by the members of the cooperative for their services. The first results have manifested themselves. Through improved feeding practices, milk yields have increased, especially during the dry seasons. This has contributed to increased farmers’ incomes. The first SPE was Intertech. Currently, the model is being replicated and up-scaled.
At the dairy sector level, SNV works through the Market Assistance Programme of DFID in Kenya with the Livestock Genetics Society. The objective of this intervention is to improve the productivity of cows through improvement of breed by means of enhancing artificial insemination services. It intends to improve quality in the artificial insemination sector through self-regulation and introduction of quality-certification and accreditation.
SNV Kenya has been working on various projects with various clients and partners over the past years. Whilst this was relevant and productive at the time, SNV is now entering a new phase that shows a systems approach towards the dairy sector and its own positioning within this. It is moving therefore from single client-based services to a more programmatic or systemic approach focused on market-based solutions.
Purpose and scope of the SNV Kenya Dairy Programme Evaluation
The evaluation aims to achieve a thorough reflection by SNV on the logic, outcome and impact results of its Kenya dairy programme over the past years. It is expected that the evaluation will assist in reviewing and assessing the support SNV has provided to the development of the dairy sector by reconstructing the intervention logic(s) and explaining what has worked, what has not, and why. This reflection should also support and validate the formulation of SNV Kenya’s strategy for the coming years, which is reflected in the Kenya Market-led Dairy Progamme (KMDP). KMDP is a 5 year programme submitted to EKN Nairobi for funding earlier this year.
Key questions to be reflected on are: what does SNV contribute to this sector, what are the current effects thereof on the dairy value chain/sector, and what are the development results experiences by the farmers, especially poor households, and other actors along the chain?
For the purpose of this evaluation and to get a credible impression of the work done across the portfolio, it is suggested to include the clients Lelbren (CBE), Kiambaa (CBE) and Muki/Kinangop (CBE/Processor), as well as Intertech Service Provider Enterprise. These reside in Nandi, Kiambu, and Nyandarua.
Evaluation questions
Together with the evaluator(s), an evaluation matrix will be developed detailing the evaluation questions, indicators and method(s), and included in an inception report. The main questions (partly overlapping) are:
Logic
- What is/are the intervention logic(s), i.e. what result pathways were followed by development interventions in the dairy programme?
- What were the basic assumptions underpinning the intervention logic(s)? How have these been tested, challenged or changed in the process of implementation and what has been the learning from practice?
Results
- What have been the effects of the programme on the relevant clients or client groups? And what factors have influenced these effects?
- What have been the effects of the programme on the relevant stakeholders in the sector? And what factors have influenced these effects?
- To what extent do improvements in the dairy sector impact on poor households? And what factors have influenced impact?
- To what extent does the programme address accountability and social inclusiveness (including gender)? And what factors have influenced this?
- To what extent has the programme been scaled-up? And what factors have influenced this up-scaling?
SNV’s contribution
- What has been SNV’s role in the changes in the dairy sector over time and what has been its contribution to local capacity strengthening and promoting an enabling environment?
- What and how did SNV contribute to improving capacities and regulations?
- What and how did SNV contribute to improving governance and social inclusion?
- What has SNV done to promote sustainability of the developments in the dairy sector and what have been the effects thereof?
- How did SNV collaborate with other development organizations, and promote alignment?
- What has SNV done to scale-up the developments and what have been the effects thereof?
- How has SNV contributed to learning among stakeholders and what have been the effects thereof?
Learn
- Are there patterns in success or failure factors, and what lessons can be drawn from this?
- What lessons could be drawn to inform further development of the SNV Kenya dairy programme with less core subsidy and in a changing funding environment: How to shape a programme to allow for flexibility and to respond quickly when a funding opportunity comes up?
Phases and deliverables
The evaluation will be conducted in four phases:
1. Analysis of the SNV Kenya dairy case studies and other documentation; and development of a generic logic model to be deducted from this.
- A report on the draft intervention logic underpinning the dairy programme in Kenya[1]
2. Together with SNV (Managing for Results unit in Head Office, Country Director and network/sector leader in Kenya, and Regional Director/Regional Strategy Advisor East and Southern Africa), the evaluators will make a plan for further in-country analysis related to development results.
- An inception report detailing review of program documents and in-country analysis
3. In-country visit to conduct evaluation study, in collaboration with local stakeholders (SNV staff, LCBs, partners, clients, beneficiaries)
- An evaluation report of country findings and results
4. Reporting and participating in the discussion of findings and recommendations with SNV staff (participants to be coordinated by MfR)
- Final evaluation report, based on feedback from SNV
Profile service provider
- Evaluation expertise (both quantitative and qualitative research methods)
- Expertise in the field of international development cooperation
- Expertise in dairy development
- Expertise in capacity development and multi-stakeholder processes
- Expertise in Kenya and/or East and Southern Africa
- Fluency in English
Time schedule and budget
Deadline of submission of a technical (approach, methodology, work plan) and financial proposal is June 25th. The evaluation will commence end of August allowing for field work to be finalized in October latest. The final report will be submitted in November 2012. It is estimated however that the first and second phases will take place during one month, the field work during one month, and the final reporting during one month. The total estimated input of the evaluator(s) is 50 to 60 person-days. Max. consultant’s fee: Euro 800/day.
Selection criteria and procedure:
Selection of the service provider is based on the following criteria:
- Proposed approach and methodology 30%
- Competencies and clarification roles 50%
- Financial proposal 20%
Request for proposals
Through this Request for Proposals SNV invites qualified Service Providers to submit proposals that include:
- Express understanding of the evaluation purpose
- Propose an approach and broad outline of methods to be employed
- Provide daily consultancy fee and overall budget
- Evaluator(s)’s competencies and proof thereof (include 2 evaluation/research reports related to the evaluation subject, evaluator’s CV, company profile)
- Roles and responsibilities of the evaluator(s)
- Evaluator’s availability in the period August-October/November 2012.
- A declaration of independency from persons and organizations that have been involved in designing, executing or advising any aspect of the SNV Kenya dairy program.
Proposals should be submitted to mroefs@snvworld.org, Dr Marlene Roefs, Managing for Results Unit, SNV Head Office. Deadline for submission is June 25th, 2012.
[1] All reports to be written in proper UK English, with the final report, including executive summary, not exceeding 30 pages.
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